A new treatment may diminish a dangerous side effect associated with transfusions of red blood cells (RBCs) known as pulmonary hypertension, an elevated blood pressure in the lungs and heart that can lead to heart failure. Researchers found transfusing RBCs that had not been pretreated with nitric oxide nearly doubled the constriction of blood vessels in the lungs, compared to RBCs pretreated with the gas. From this, the authors concluded that pretreating stored RBCs with nitric oxide reduces the risk of pulmonary hypertension.

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